Vacaya Caribbean All-Gay Cruise 2025
& New Orleans Mardi Gras

February 22–March 01, 2025
Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas

7 nights roundtrip from/to New Orleans, Louisiana

A once-in-a-lifetime Caribbean adventure awaits with Royal Caribbean & Vacaya on Brilliance of the Seas! Our 2025 Caribbean Cruise sets an all-new standard for what’s possible in the world of all-LGBT+ and all-gay cruising! We’ll sail 7 magical nights roundtrip from The Big Easy, returning to New Orleans just in time for the biggest party in the world… Mardi Gras 2025!
Sailing Feb 22-Mar 1, 2025 from New Orleans to Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Yucatan (Progreso, gateway to beautiful Merida), Mexico. Brilliance of the Seas with VACAYA in New Orleans at Mardi Gras is sure to make this the most sought-after all-LGBT+ adventure of 2025!

At the end of the cruise, we have an incredible 4-night post-cruise stay in New Orleans available for purchase, as well. Those 4 nights are packed with nearly everything you could ever want from a Mardi Gras experience – grandstand seating for the best parades (Endymion, Bacchus, Zulu, and Rex), delicious food, bayou fun, transfers everywhere you’ll need them, and VIP Tables at the Orpheus Ball! Mardi Gras has never been this easy or this much fun!

Take part in the MOST FABULOUS PARTY ON EARTH! We know you think you’re ready, but unless you’ve been to Mardi Gras before, you truly have no idea how much fun is packed into the streets of the Crescent City. So… start your engines and get ready to escape normal on this trip of a lifetime!

Our Biggest Party of the Year!

As you know, cruising takes the guess work out of travel. And with all the added VACAYA benefits – from signature entertainment and welcoming parties to endless social activities and non-stop fun – it’s also an incredible value. With so many inclusions, your precious vacation dollars have never been better spent. And with this cruise – like we’ve done with all our big-ship Caribbean cruises since the beginning – you’ll have the ability to purchase Royal Caribbean’s unlimited beverage packages to make the value even better!

It’s amazing what’s included:
• 7 Nights aboard Brilliance of the Seas
• Onboard meals with flavors from around the world*
• 24×7 Stateroom Service**
• World-Class Fitness Center
• All-Star VACAYA Entertainment
• Endless Royal Caribbean and VACAYA social activities
• Warm, friendly parties with music you love and can even sing along to
• Party themes 120 days out
• Royal Caribbean Booking Numbers 45 days out
• Abundant, clear, and timely communication via email and our exclusive GET READY page
• VACAYA ReachOUT Philanthropic Service Opportunities

*Some of the specialty dining venues have an additional cost, but they’re worth every penny.
**There’s a nominal delivery fee for room service.

Stellar Entertainment
This incredible Caribbean adventure will feature the top-quality entertainers VACAYA is known for. Edge media wrote that VACAYA entertainment is “packed with top-tier entertainers – a hallmark of the brand, which has quickly risen to best-in-class for queer travelers.” We believe onboard entertainment should be plentiful, fresh, diverse, and unpredictable, surrounding you and delighting you with spaces and experiences never seen before. Brilliance provides the perfect canvas for our artists!

Comfy Rooms
Brilliance of the Seas is one of our favorite ships for all-gay/all-LGBT+ charters! She offers unmatched spaces for our parties, as well as super comfy staterooms. Brilliance’s staterooms are an alluring escape from the non-stop action our cruises are known for. From the spectacular views to the deluxe amenities, a stay with VACAYA and Royal Caribbean is like nothing at sea. All the creature comforts you’d expect to have during your vacation are available to you on Brilliance of the Seas, from 24-hour room service to daily cleaning services.

Delicious Meals
Brilliance of the Seas offers 10 different dining choices, from her included Windjammer Buffet and Main Restaurant, where you can experience flavors that take you from the Caribbean to Jaipur with a rotating menu of delicious dishes, to its cafés and specialty restaurants that give you the very best tastes from Japan, Italy, and the world’s finest chophouses.

Activities & Parties
With VACAYA, you’re in complete control of your own schedule. You can hop from one activity to the next or simply relax at the pool. Our activities include meetups, pool games, fitness classes, V-Dances (VACAYA’s twist on the classic T-Dance), welcoming evening parties, and so much more. Part of the fun of each and every VACAYA cruise vacation is our theme parties. And in an industry-leading timeline, you’ll have your party themes 120 days out!

Nude Sun Deck
Our sexy sun deck allows you to go au naturel. Perhaps you’re curious about what a clothing optional experience is really like, or maybe you want to get some sun without the tan lines, or perhaps you just want to embrace your natural look in a sea of body positivity. Whatever the reason, VACAYA offers you this experience. So go ahead… indulge in the company of like-minded adventurers!

Myth Busting Unlimited Beverage Packages
Once again, VACAYA will offer UNLIMITED BEVERAGE PACKAGES, which will be available for purchase for this cruise! Once online registration opens shortly before the cruise, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase one of the myriad unlimited Alcoholic or Non-Alcoholic Beverage Packages directly from Royal Caribbean. Pay just one price to enjoy a wide variety of drink choices such as premium coffees, bottled water, wines-by-the-glass, beers, or your favorite cocktails. Your package can be used in the Main Restaurant, specialty restaurants, casual dining restaurants, and all bars and lounges.

Our Ship - Brilliance of the Seas

If you love next-level thrills, fantastic dining, and stellar entertainment, you’ll love this VACAYA getaway on Brilliance of the Seas. There are very few ships that are truly perfect for all-LGBT+ charter cruising, and Royal Caribbean’s Radiance Class ships are among the very best. Brilliance of the Seas is the second in the line-up of four Radiance Class ships, joining our other favorites – Celebrity Millennium Class, Solstice Class, and Edge Class – for top honors. Add Brilliance’s approachable and helpful staff to the mix, and she’s an all-around winner for VACAYA!

Brilliance’s stunning nine-story central atrium is surrounded by glass, and elevators face the outside, giving you endless ocean views throughout the ship. And after a day of fun out in the Caribbean, indulge in the comfort of an Interior, Oceanview, Balcony Stateroom, or Suite – each at a different price point to fit every budget. From their spectacular views to the deluxe amenities sprinkled throughout, you’ll find Brilliance’s myriad rooms the perfect home-away-from-home.

Main Restaurant
Many of the dishes on the Main Dining Room’s menu rotate each night, which means you could go an entire week without ever repeating a course. Every meal here begins with something delicious from the starters section of the menu — like savory duck terrine layered with apricot chutney on toasted sourdough bread, a flaky Vidalia onion tart baked with whipped eggs, cream, and smoked bacon, or spiced eggplant and Kalamata olive tartare prepared with red pepper hummus and served on crispy garlic bread. Your taste buds will thank you!

Park Cafe
In the mood for deli classics that knock it out of the park? Head to Park Café, where you’ll find quick bites to please every palate. Crisp made-to-order salads? Check. Fresh-pressed paninis and sandwiches? Double check. And don’t miss the legendary Royal Kümmelweck roast beef sandwich — it’s a guest favorite (and a rite of passage for cruising foodies). The menu at Park Café offers something for everyone during breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks. Come here for deli classics, like soups and sandwiches, plus sweet treats and a stellar breakfast spread.

Windjammer
No matter what kind of dish you’re in the mood for, you’ll find something tasty worth trying at the Windjammer. Pop in during the morning for scrambled egg Bhurji served with roti, or home-style crispy chicken and waffles. Refuel in between adventures with a refreshing watermelon and feta salad or classic fish and chips. Or sample your way from Italy to India with dishes like traditional chicken marsala, savory pork vindaloo, tangy duck à l’orange, and flavorful Caribbean goat curry.

Izumi ($)
From delicious sushi rolls to fresh sashimi and nigiri, Izumi serves up an exotic Asian-inspired dining experience. Savor izakaya-style appetizers and rolls that range from classic to imaginative. No matter what you order, you’re in for a far out, Far East feast filled with incredible flavors from Tohoku to Tokyo. At Izumi Sushi, you’ll indulge in a four-course meal that includes one starter, two mains, and one dessert. Extra charge.

Giovanni's Table ($)
Every meal at Giovanni’s Table is a family-style celebration of rustic Italian flavor. You’ll find all your favorite Old-World classics on the menu here, like house focaccia served with marinated artichokes, olives, and pesto, fluffy gnocchi tossed in a thyme-scented sauce of lamb and root vegetables, traditional risotto finished with porcini and truffle mushroom tapenade, and veal osso buco paired with creamy cheese polenta, ripe tomatoes, and sautéed green beans. Extra charge.

Chop's Grille($)
For more than a decade, the chefs of Chops Grille have proudly presented quality, hand-cut steaks at this hallmark Royal Caribbean restaurant. Now, they give you a fresh twist on a favorite, with a revamped menu that brings contemporary flair to traditional steakhouse offerings. Most intriguing: the exceptional prime beef. This prime beef is joined by Maine lobster, grilled branzino, and other succulent dishes paired with addictive sides and irresistible desserts. Extra charge.

Viking Crown Lounge
A fixture on nearly every cruise ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet and a true architectural wonder, the iconic Viking Crown Lounge is the ultimate spot to soak up panoramic views while sipping your favorite cocktails. Catch the sunset through the lounge’s floor-to-ceiling windows, then stick around as the space comes alive with the sounds of live entertainers, flashing strobe lights, and plenty of action on the dance floor. Viking Crown Lounge will be where VACAYA’s infamous After Parties take place!

R Bar
The vintage décor at R Bar creates the perfect atmosphere to order a classic old fashioned or gimlet, but you should definitely also try one of the signature cocktails on the menu. Those who prefer their drinks on the fruity side will love the Purple Haze, made with Bacardi 8 rum, Blue Curacao and Pernod, and shaken with pineapple juice, passion fruit puree, and a splash of grenadine. The bartenders here are pros. Let them surprise you with something not on the menu.

Vintages
Deciding what to drink at Vintages all depends on your own personal preferences. If you love a great reisling, try a glass of light and fruity Dürnberg from Austria. If sauvignon blanc is more your speed, the menu at Vintages offers several great options from Marlborough, New Zealand. Those looking for something richer and more full-bodied should try Two Hands’ “Gnarly Dudes” shiraz from Barossa Valley, South Africa, or a glass of Cheval des Andes from Mendoza, Argentina — a balanced blend of Malbec grapes and Bordeaux varietals.

English Pub
The English Pub is best known for its wide and diverse selection of beers, but you can also order up a mean cocktail here, too. If you want something smooth yet strong, go for the James Bond Martini. It’s a powerhouse triad of Belvedere vodka, Beefeater gin, and Lillet Blanc. If you love bourbon, try the Buffalo Manhattan, which swaps out whiskey for Buffalo Trace with sweet vermouth and a splash of Angostura bitters.

Red Light District
VACAYA’s signature venue returns! Step inside VACAYA’s Red Light District where fantasies come alive and inhibitions melt away. As queer folx explore this sanctioned intimate play space, you’ll discover an intimate world where uninhibited passion and desire take center stage. Lose yourself in the labyrinth, the rhythmic beats, and the tantalizing sounds of fervor that hang in the air. Full details will be available as we get closer to sailing. And of course, we’ll have a satellite bar nearby so you can grab a drink before heading in!

Schooner Bar
Wrap up your night at Schooner Bar, where perfectly mixed cocktails and live VACAYA entertainment come together in a warmly-lit nautical-themed lounge. Cozy up in a seat under the mast, by the portholes, or right by the gleaming grand piano. The sing-alongs are about to begin! Up for something different? Let the bartender know what your favorite spirit is, and ask them to whip you up a surprise!